Pole assembly for mounting an object in the ground

ABSTRACT

A pole assembly with integrated driver to a pole into a hard surface. The pole assembly includes a ground stake mechanically coupled to a spade which can be driven into ground. A strike plate is attached to the ground stake and offset from the spade in order to allow the spade to move at angles not perpendicular to the ground. A moveable inner pipe is next to the ground stake and mechanically coupled to a top plate that can move parallel to the ground stake. A moveable outer pipe is detachably coupled to the moveable inner pipe. The moveable outer pipe can guide the moveable inner pipe into the strike plate driving the spade into the ground.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices that can mount other devices in frozen ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the disclosed invention it was difficult to mount virtually anything in frozen ground, particularly something that would be damaged by a hammer. An embodiment of the present invention focuses on an aspect of that problem, which involves mounting a hunting decoy into frozen ground. Using a separate hammer may cause damage as well as become a nuisance to carry around. Additionally environmental conditions may pose a challenge, especially when it is dark. Therefore, a self-contained sliding driver with a pole attached solves this problem. The prior art includes: U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,485 issued to Giannetto; U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0253876 filed by Odell; U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,187 issued to McCarthy; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,234 issued to Matson.

Giannetto, Odell and McCarthy teach a device for driving and stabilizing a rod in the earth comprising a point mechanically coupled to internal pole. The internal pole is mechanically coupled to an expanded section. The internal pole is surrounded by an external cylinder such that a user can apply force to the external cylinder onto the expanded section driving the internal pole into the earth which is then held in place with the anchor. However, none of Giannetto, Odell or McCarthy teaches an anchor which is substantially wider than the point and an internal pole.

Matson teaches an anchor which is substantially wider than the point and an internal pole. However, Matson utilizes an internal cylindrical cap which can allow dirt, water and other debris to get trapped within the device causing rust. Matson teaches a set screw proximate the spade which is likely to result in the set screw being driven into the earth. Matson places the strike plate immediately adjacent the spade which reduces flexibility in moving or removing the spade because the strike plate is immediately adjacent to the earth. Embodiments of the present invention solve these problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pole assembly with integrated driver to a pole into a hard surface. The pole assembly includes a ground stake mechanically coupled to a spade which can be driven into ground. A strike plate is attached to the ground stake and offset from the spade in order to allow the spade to move at angles not perpendicular to the ground. A moveable inner pipe is next to the ground stake and mechanically coupled to a top plate that can move parallel to the ground stake. A moveable outer pipe is detachably coupled to the moveable inner pipe. The moveable outer pipe can guide the moveable inner pipe into the strike plate driving the spade into the ground.

In some embodiments, the top plate is hexagonal. This allows gravity to remove dirt, debris and water from between the inner movable pipe and the outer movable pipe in an improvement over Matson.

In some embodiments, the outer movable pipe comprises an outer set bolt hole accommodate a set bolt nut and a set bolt assembly and the inner movable pipe comprises an inner set bolt hole. The outer movable pipe can be secured to the inner movable pipe by inserting the set bolt assembly through the outer set bolt hole and the inner set bolt hole in the inner movable pipe to the ground stake.

In some embodiments, an upper end of the outer movable pipe is mechanically coupled to a top mounting bracket which comprises a top mounting bracket cavity that can accommodate a thumb screw and a thumb screw nut. This allows a user to affix a decoy to the pole assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, shown in use.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 3A is an section view of the invention, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1, illustrating the movable pole in the down position.

FIG. 3B is a detail section view of the invention, illustrating the set bolt in the locked position.

FIG. 4A is a section view of the invention, illustrating the movable pole in the up position.

FIG. 4B is a detail section view of the invention, illustrating the set bolt in the unlocked position.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the invention, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a section view of the invention, taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the invention, illustrating the driving action of the movable pole.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the spade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the obstacles associated with inserting poles in frozen ground, and now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all embodiments of the claimed inventions. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 shows the invention in use. A user desires to affix decoy 44 into ground 42 and can accomplish this with pole assembly 10. Pole assembly 10 comprises outer moveable pole 22. Outer movable pipe 22 is immediately adjacent to top mounting bracket 32. Top mounting bracket 32 can be affixed to outer movable pipe 22 with thumb screw 34 as shown in more detail in FIG. 2. Outer movable pipe 22 is mechanically coupled to set bolt assembly 24 including set bolt nut 26 as shown in more detail in FIG. 2. Pole assembly 10 further comprises ground stake 12 which is mechanically coupled to spade 14. Ground stake 12 is immediately adjacent to stationary pipe 16.

FIG. 2 provides instructions for building an embodiment of pole assembly 10. Pole assembly 10 comprises ground stake 12 mechanically coupled to spade 14. Ground stake 12 is immediately adjacent to stationary pipe 16 which is immediately adjacent to a pole. In an improvement over Matson, stationary pipe 16 is staggered upward on ground stake 12 from spade 14. This enables a user to maneuver ground stake 12 in a direction that is not perpendicular to the ground. Here the pole comprises inner movable pipe 20 Inner movable pipe 20 further comprises inner set bolt hole 30. Inner movable pipe 20 is immediately adjacent to top plate 18 which partially fits inside inner movable pipe 20. In an improvement over Matson, top plate 18 is hexagonal and not cylindrical. This enables gravity to remove dirt debris ant water from inside outer movable pipe 22. Inner movable pipe 20 is immediately adjacent to outer movable pipe 22 creating weight sufficient to drive ground stake 12 into ground 42. This two pipe construction enables a user to drive spade 14 into frozen ground by using a thinner, lighter outer moveable pipe 22 that can be connected to inner movable pipe 20.

As noted above, outer movable pipe 22 comprises outer set bolt hole 28 which can accommodate set bolt nut 26 and set bolt assembly 24. An upper end of outer movable pipe 22 is mechanically coupled to top mounting bracket 32 which comprises top mounting bracket cavity 40 that can accommodate thumb screw 34 and thumb screw nut 36.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A demonstrate the functionality of pole assembly 10. A user can lift outer movable pipe 22 and inner movable pipe 20 distant stationary pipe 16 as shown in FIG. 4A and then exert force to contact outer movable pipe 22 and inner movable pipe 20 into stationary pipe 16 causing a downward force to drive ground stake 12 and spade 14 into ground 42. This downward force is concentrated on a small surface area on the bottom of ground stake 12 to cause ground stake 12 to penetrate ground 42 even if ground 42 is frozen.

Once pole assembly 10 is firmly in ground 42, the user may want to secure outer movable pipe 22 and inner movable pipe 20 to ground stake 12. This is shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B. To secure outer movable pipe 22 and inner movable pipe 20 to ground stake 12 a user inserts set bolt assembly 24 through outer set bolt hole 28 in outer movable pipe 22 and inner set bolt hole 30 in inner movable pipe 20 to ground stake 12. The user then twists set bolt assembly 24 to secure outer movable pipe 22 and inner movable pipe 20 to ground stake 12.

In some embodiments pole assembly 10 can be made by mechanically coupling outer movable pipe 22 to inner movable pipe 20 with weld 40, this increases the mass of the movable pipe and eases the process of pushing ground stake 12 to penetrate ground 42.

FIG. 8 shows another unique feature of pole assembly 10. As noted above, Giannetto, Odell or McCarthy teach a thin pointed rod as the best vehicle for affixing a pole into ground. The present invention teaches that mechanically coupling spade 14 to ground stake 12 will enable better penetration of frozen ground because the larger surface area of spade 14 compared to ground stake 12 will increase stability. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A pole assembly with integrated driver to a pole into a hard surface, the pole assembly comprising, a ground stake mechanically coupled to a spade which can be driven into ground; a strike plate mechanically coupled to the ground stake and offset from the spade in order to allow the spade to move at angles not perpendicular to the ground; a moveable inner pipe immediately adjacent to the ground stake and mechanically coupled to a top plate that can move parallel to the ground stake; and a moveable outer pipe detachably coupled to the moveable inner pipe; wherein the moveable outer pipe can guide the moveable inner pipe into the strike plate driving the spade into the ground.
 2. The pole assembly of claim 1, wherein the top plate is hexagonal in order to allow gravity to remove dirt, debris and water from between the inner movable pipe and the outer movable pipe.
 3. The pole assembly of claim 1, further comprising the outer movable pipe comprises an outer set bolt hole accommodate a set bolt nut and a set bolt assembly and the inner movable pipe comprises an inner set bolt hole; wherein the outer movable pipe can be secured to the inner movable pipe by inserting the set bolt assembly through the outer set bolt hole and the inner set bolt hole in the inner movable pipe to the ground stake.
 4. The pole assembly of claim 1, an upper end of the outer movable pipe is mechanically coupled to a top mounting bracket which comprises a top mounting bracket cavity that can accommodate a thumb screw and a thumb screw nut for affixing a decoy to the pole assembly. 